Regardless of who you are, you mean a whole lot to the Lord. Nothing could ever happen to change that truth – it simply is immutable. You and I might make some terrible choices, but our value in the Master’s eyes does not decrease even a little bit. He certainly does not approve of our wrongdoing, nor does He forgive our sins if we do not comply with His conditions of cleansing, yet our preciousness before Him stands unaltered.
It is encouraging to know that when I came into this world, I meant a lot to God. Throughout life, I remain a valuable being before Him. And, even in death, I will still be precious in His eyes.
In comparison to other living things, humans are more precious in God’s sight. That is not a boastful claim; it is simply a statement that sets forth biblical truth. What did Jesus say? After pointing out that God takes care of the birds of the air, He asked, “Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26). The implied answer is, “Yes.” The Christ later told His disciples, “. . . you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). Again, after pointing out that people would rescue a sheep that had fallen into a pit, He inquired, “Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep?” (Matthew 12:12). If you are attached to animals or feel compelled to fight for “animal rights,” your convictions are not inappropriate. Let us all, however, keep things in proper perspective. Each human is more precious than any swimming, flying, or running creature.
The parables of Luke 15 catch our attention. When Jesus was criticized for spending time with sinners (Luke 15:1,2), He responded by telling three stories. In the first, a man had one hundred sheep. When one went astray, he went and searched until he found it. When he found it, he rejoiced (15:1-7).
In the second parable, a woman loses one of her ten coins. Again, she searched until she found the lost coin. Her reaction when she found it? Joy (15:8-10). And that last story? That would be the Parable of the Lost/Prodigal Son. When a lost, dead son came home to his father, the father rejoiced, knowing that his dead son was “alive again,” found, safe and sound (15:11-32). Jesus used those three parables to show that every person is of great importance to God. Our Lord cares about every single one, and so should we.
Consider this. If Jesus died for me, does that not prove that I am precious to Him? Paul spoke of his life in the Christ, saying, “. . . and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Jesus died for all, yet it also amazes each of us that He “gave Himself for me.”
Peter instructed Christians to be humble and cast their cares on God. Why? “. . . for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Others may overlook me, mock me, forget me, or just ignore me, but God cares about me. Surely I am precious to Him.
God’s grace makes provision for the salvation of all people, but His grace is personal, too. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain . . . but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10; emphasis mine, rdc).
As a disciple of Jesus, I have a role to play in His body. I may be a hand, elbow, fingernail, or eyelash, but what I do and who I am matters to Him (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Romans 12:3-8). True, I am “just one member,” but I am still one member! In the Lord’s work, I can help, serve, and contribute to the Cause. And, God does not forget our work and labor of love (Hebrews 6:10).
Even our death means something special to our Creator. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15). Our spirits will end up in God’s hands: “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
After our exit from this life, there is an eternal house waiting for God’s faithful. “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). What a precious promise for God’s precious people!
If you are a student, but your marks/grades are not as high as you expected, do not fret. Your value before God is still off the charts. If you are not one of the most popular kids at school, that does not alter your preciousness to God.
Did you make mistakes in rearing your children? All of us who are parents have done that. Have you made some embarrassing decisions? Who hasn’t? Have you allowed sin to invade your life and have dominion in it? There is nothing that you or anyone else has ever done that God will not forgive if we will come back to Him on His terms. Sin ruins relationships, but it does not diminish our value in God’s sight. You, yes you, my friend, and you, my brother and sister, are precious in God’s sight. Believe it!
Here is a closing question to ponder. Is God precious in your sight? I know that each one of us means a lot to Him. But how precious are God, His Word, and His church to you and me?
— Roger D. Campbell